The Battle of Montgisard

Today, Nov. 25th, 836 years ago (in 1177), the Battle of Montgisard (aka the Battle of Gezer) took place, in which the Frankish army under the command of young King Baldwin of Jerusalem, resoundingly defeated the Muslim army of Saladin.

Without a doubt, the Frankish knights and soldiers standing on the ramparts of Blanche Garde (those of the castle’s garrison who had not joined the battle itself) could see the battle – which was conducted just about 19 km to the north. Even nowadays, with all the smog of our modern industrial age, Gezer can be very clearly seen from the top of Tell es-Safi/Gath, standing on the foundations of Blanche Garde. A decade later, in 1187, the tables had turned, and Saladin completely destroyed the Frankish army at the Battle of Hattin.